Golf stroke practicing device



Sept. 16, 1958 P. MEMlNGER 2,352,261

GOLF STROKE PRACTICING DEVICE Filed Aug. 19, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

BY R ME'MINGER,

A TTORNEK Sept. 16, 1958 P. MEMlNGER 2,852,261

com STROKE PRACTICING DEVICE Filed Aug. 19, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR: P. ME'MING'ER,

ATTORNEY.

United States GOLF STROKE PRACTICING DEVICE Paul Meminger, Alhambra, Calif.

Application August 19, 1357, Serial No. 679,030

6 Claims. (Cl. 273-200) This invention relates to a device for use in practicing golf strokes Within limited spaces such as the back yard or patio of the average home.

It is the object of the invention to provide a golf stroke practicing device so designed and constructed that the player may tee off his ball as naturally and freely the advantageous features thereof will be apparent from the following detailed description and by referring to the accompanying drawings in which a preferred form of the invention is illustrated.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 illustrates the manner in which the device of the invention may be placed relative to a target;

Fig. 2 shows the device itself;

Figs. 3 and 4 illustrate the method of applying the cord of the invention to a golf ball.

Fig. 5 illustrates a preferred form of the invention; 4.

and

Figs. 6 and 7 show various parts thereof.

As illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings the ball 1 of the device is placed on a conventional golf range tee A, and a cord 2 extends from the ball to a container 3 which by the player is placed on the ground a few feet away from the tee. This container is so heavy that the ball, even when subjected to powerful golf strokes, is unable to raise it off the ground but merely capable of dragging it a very short distance along the surface of the ground, all as hereinafter more fully described. The cord, or line 2 is made from the most powerful stretch and wear resistant material obtainable to the end that it may serve over a long period of time without danger of breaking.

One serious problem encountered in golf practicing devices is the difiiculty of anchoring the line in the ball so firmly that it will withstand the severe pulls and jerks it is repeatedly subjected to without danger of gradually becoming dislodged from the ball. This problem may be satisfactorily solved in the following manner. The ball is composed of an elastic composition such as ordinarilyused in the making of golf balls and a cylindrical recess 5 is sunk or molded into the ball, substantially as indicated in Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings. A thimble 6 is placed on the line and maintained in position thereon in any suitable manner, as by tying a knot 7 on the end thereof. When the enlarged end surface of the thimble is rearwardly curved, as indicated at 8, and somewhat larger in diameter than the recess 5, it is found that the thimble may be forced into the recess tightly to lodge at the inner end thereof, substantially atent ice as illustrated in Fig. 4, the elastic wall of the recess yielding during this movement.

Removal of the line from the recess is made very difficult because the sharp outer edge 9 of the thimble indents the recess wall and will gouge out the wall during such withdrawal. Placing a small amount of a suitable rubber solution in the recess will greatly facilitate the seating of the thimble therein and when this solution is given time to set, it is found that the line will be so solidly anchored in the recess that its position cannot be disturbed during golf stroke practice. The body 6 of the thimble is of a diameter snugly to engage the recess wall but should a slight clearance be found between the thimble body and wall, it is merely required to force a suitable rubber cement 10 into the clearance space tightly to close the recess opening.

The container 3 consists of an outer bag 20, see Figs. 5 and 6, within which a smaller inner bag 21 is freely placed and this inner bag is filled with heavy granular material, such as steel balls, lead shot or, in cheaper grades of the device, even pebbles or gravel. The inner bag is held in position by stitching 22 at the side edges of the container, as indicated in Fig. 5. The outer bag is made from a strip of fabric about seven inches wide and one end of the strip is folded over and stitched in position on the unfolded portion of the strip along the side edges 23, 23* thereof to form the cover bag of the device, which should be about seven inches square. The line may, as indicated inFigs. 5 and 6, be composed of the cord 2 and a second cord, both of which are bent to form interengaging loops 12, 13. The loop 13 is placed on the projecting outer portion 27 of the cover bag, whereupon the corners of this projecting portion are folded on lines 32, 33 to enclose the ends of the loop. While this completes the container assembly, it is necessary to provide means for covering the folds and the loop 13 within the folds as well as to prevent dirt from entering and accumulating beneath the folds. This may be done by placing a triangular strip of suitable material 35 on the folds and by heavy double stitching 36 securely fastening this cover as well as the line loop 13 in position, all as best shown in Fig. 2.

The inner bag 21 is in this manner held freely within the outer bag and, as above stated, a suiiicient amount of granular material is freely placed within the inner bag. Experience has taught me that a few pounds of material are required to render the device safely operable. It is important to note that the inner bag is large enough freely to receive the granulated material which at all times is free to flow in any direction Within the bag. This is of advantage for the following reasons. When the ball is hit and advances toward the target B, it is found that the folded extension, or flap of the container first will be swung upwardly and forwardly, substantially as indicated in phantom outline in Fig. 1. This initial bending of the thick, heavily stitched parts of the flap will absorb much of the shock the container is subjected to. And since the ganulated material within the inner bag is free to flow therein, it is found that the pull by the ball will continue to swing the end of the container upwardly and forwardly until the material becomes jammed into the inner end of the bag. During this yielding movement, it is found that much of the ball energy is expended and that merely enough force remains to drag the container a short distance along the surface of the ground. Had the inner bag been tightly fitted within the outer bag, the granular material tightly packed within the inner bag, and the folded flap portion of the container left out, then the initial shock exerted by the ball would cause the ball to recoil dangerously or might even be sufficient to break the line. The purpose of interengaging the loops 12, 13 is to be able to disconnect the ball from the container for replacement in case the ball should become damaged. All of this excessive strain is avoided in the device as above described and the ball will be brought to a stop smoothly as it reaches the target. The end of -the loop 12 should, of course, be fastened to the cord 2 and this may be doneby mounting a'clip 40 thereon.

The placing of the line loop on the fiap and holding it in correct position while folding the flap cor-11ers may be facilitated by placing the loop between two narrow strips of material 28, 29, see Fig. 7, and securely fastening the loop in position therebetween by stitching 30, 31. This assembly adds considerably to the bending resistance olfered by the flap and so tends to bring the container more quickly and more smoothly to a stop. The surface of the cover bag will gradually become worn out by the recurring dragging along the ground but since the granular material is held within the inner bag, it will be maintained safely therein even after the outer bag is entirely worn out. But, if preferred, the inner bag may be left out and the granular material placed loosely in the outer bag.

It is seen from the foregoing description that I have provided a very simple and conveniently operable device which will render golf shot practicing both safe and satisfying. But While I have herein described a preferred form of the invention it is to be understood that modifications, within the scope of the claims hereto annexed, may

be embodied without departing from the spirit of the invention.

1 claim:

1. A golf stroke practicing device comprising, a container consisting of an outer, bag and a smaller inner bag stitched in position therein along the side edges of the container, a load of heavy granulated material freely placed within the inner bag, 'a line fastened to and extending from one end of the container, a golf ball having a cylindrical recess therein, and means firmly anchoring the end of the line in the recess.

2. A device as set forth in claim 1 in which the line is bent to form a loop, the free ends of the looped line being placed within the outer bag of the container, stitching through the outer bag at the front end of'the con- 4 tainer maintaining the ends of the line in position within the container.

3. A device as set forth in claim 2 in which the ends of the looped line are laid between two strips of material and fastened in position therebetween by stitching, the strip and line assembly being placed within the front end of the outer bag and stitched in position therein.

4. A container as set forth in claim 1 in which one side wall of the outer bag is extended to form a flap substantially the size of the container, the outer corners of the flap being folded on angular lines from the corners of the container substantially to register with a line through the container center, a cover for the folded portion of the flap, and stitching through the cover and the edges of the folded flap to secure the cover and the ends of the line firmly in position within this extended portion of the container.

5. A device as set forth in claim 2 in which a cord extends from the golf ball, the outer end of the cord being folded to form a loop for detachable interengagement with the loop of the container cord to provide a continuous line from the container to the ball, and a clip clamping the looped portions of the ball cord together.

6. A golf stroke practicing device comprising, a container consisting of an outer bag and a smaller inner bag stitched in position therein along the side edges of the container, a load of heavy granulated material within the inner bag freely placed therein, a line fastened to and extending from one end of the container, a golf ball having a cylindrical recess therein, a thimble mounted on the outer end of the line, the thimble having an outwardly curved flange at the outer end thereof, the flange being somewhat larger in diameter than the recess of the ball to indent the wall of the recess when the thimble is pressed in position therein.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,081,059 Mitchell May 18, 1937 FOREIGN PATENTS 21,210 Australia Feb. 4, 1936 

